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Post by keith1500 on Jan 24, 2022 12:55:21 GMT
I have been busy progressing the treadle project for the club. The prototype worked well so I am now finalising the desgn and making a batch of six. Signalling track treadle by GL5Keith1500, on Flickr The base is made from 2mm stainless steel as is the microswitch tray. Various bits collecting together. A batch of bits that allow the treadle to move nicely. Also a drilling jig which attaches to the base and sets the base at the right height relative to the rail head. Engraved it so some some numpty down the club don’t go and throw it away! Signalling track treadle by GL5Keith1500, on Flickr One of the things I tend to do is always leave the workshop on a good note. I don’t have to finish something but it’s nice to know what the next step of the job is and that’s worth looking forward to doing. Even when something becomes a problem I either leave it alone for a while or else gather up enough info so as to allow me time to think it through. Answer, will eventually come and that’s a good time to go see if your idea might work. I remember once being stuck on sorting out an issue with my GT6. It took me three months before I had that light bulb moment. Ps anyone recognised the yellow pot? I use it for catching bits being parted off. You find them in DIY stores and they are from the end of a bundle of 15 mm copper tube……technically free!
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Post by delaplume on Jan 24, 2022 15:31:56 GMT
I've not been feeling myself lately, sometimes I pop my head in the workshop and do a bit but more often than not just tidy up a little. Hoping to regain my enthusiasm soon. the night is darkest just before dawn !!
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Post by GWR 101 on Jan 24, 2022 16:43:48 GMT
Thought I would post this here, its took 3 days to get this far, balancing was a concern as the fixture and smokebox saddle weigh 1400 grams and are on a 80 mm. mean radius. The fixture only misses the lathe bed by a couple of mill, it takes 10minutes to take a cut through so plenty of time to tidy the workshop up. Regards Paul
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Post by andyhigham on Jan 24, 2022 19:16:14 GMT
Yesterday my water gauge was all over the place and I was getting a lot of water in the exhaust. Today I filled the boiler with citric acid and a few kettle fulls of hot water. The loco spent a number of years darn sarf so the stuff that went into the boiler would not have been worthy of the name water. It started bubbling and gurgling straight away. It may need a couple of doses Video below 20220124_170421 by Sigma Projects, on Flickr
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JonL
Elder Statesman
WWSME (Wiltshire)
Posts: 2,911
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Post by JonL on Jan 25, 2022 12:11:26 GMT
Very reminded to get something ready for Andover narrow gauge event. A friend has kept me up to date with the sleeper replacement going on. Our wives coming from the same part of the world helps! David and Lily. My friend has just bought a partially complete Conway so that event would certainly be of interest to us. Andover is very close to my old home and the area my parents still live. I've been out and made the tyres for my Burrell today so thats a bit of progress. As usual I keep finding myself desperate for more space, but better organisation would help. Roll on the sunshine and the vitamin D.
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Post by andyhigham on Jan 25, 2022 19:48:16 GMT
I drained a bucketfull of yucky, green grey liquid out of my boiler. I re filled with another dose of hot citric acid. There was a couple of bubbles this morning, now nothing and no more floaters. Hopefully the boiler will be clean now.
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stevep
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,070
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Post by stevep on Jan 25, 2022 23:12:36 GMT
The last time I cleaned out my boiler on my Rob Roy, I filled it with kettle de-scaler, left the safety valves out and lit the fire. After boiling away for half an hour, I let the fire die and drained down the (greeny-blue) water.
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dscott
Elder Statesman
Posts: 2,438
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Post by dscott on Jan 26, 2022 0:39:40 GMT
I found a TWIN to our vice on Gumtree so after texting, arranged a drive down and a walk along the beach at Bournemouth. Very cold on the way back to the car. We got 2 hours for £1.90 Winter rate. And a Tiny cup of tea for £2.20. We shared. Then in the afternoon drove up to Poole to collect. 2 of us to lug to the car. An interesting engineering works tiny but willing to make stuff mostly CNC! Just about warmed up. The new road rules have not improved the driving. David and Lily.
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Post by simplyloco on Jan 26, 2022 9:49:40 GMT
I've spent the last two evenings sitting in the lounge, sorting out my nuts. You know, the ones that you put in a little box/jar/tray because you can't be bothered to put them away... I found hundreds of the little bu**ers, especially 6BA and upwards!
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Post by keith1500 on Jan 26, 2022 13:30:17 GMT
It’s called the “for now” box/ tray or in my case drawer. But I am not sure I can bring my self sort out .
Well done you…
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dscott
Elder Statesman
Posts: 2,438
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Post by dscott on Jan 27, 2022 1:39:33 GMT
VICE came with us to the Track as I had not found our Lidl special 4 wheel trolley to move it. Dodgy Nuts (Doughnuts) as it was someones Birthday at Nibbles time. Tackled some more hedge mostly scraping matted mud of the pavement on the A4. Noted that Joggers and Cyclists LOVE BLACK LIVERY. Just how many have we almost hit? Could the HIGHWAY CODE insist on bright colours? Us in High Visibility vests were at the Top of the Pecking order for a change. The state of some cars! They just need grabbing off the road. Then we reduce pollution.
A test of a Western Locomotive narrow gauge on 5" Saw the regulator still stuck. Someone began getting all the bits out of the smokebox. It would be at the back. I got him some tea. Picked up the dropped allen key box!!!!
Got some drills from lidl the tiny ones and some clamps. Got an Email from Jacquie Blackgates with some photos of wheels. Finally finished my tax return!!
David and Lily.
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johnd
Part of the e-furniture
Posts: 282
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Post by johnd on Jan 27, 2022 11:59:01 GMT
After a couple of weeks working on household tasks started on major workshop clean up and rearrange due to the purchase of M&W toolbox. This box was found whilst walking round a junk/useful bits shop. I walked in and at the back of the shop i saw a nice shinny dark wood box sitting in the corner, it turned out to be a vintage M&W toolmakers seven draw toolbox in mint condition. Could not believe the cheap two figure asking price so paid the money and ran. Thus started the major tidy.
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mbrown
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,720
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Post by mbrown on Jan 27, 2022 14:53:13 GMT
Some folk get all the luck!
Malcolm
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Post by springcrocus on Jan 27, 2022 22:42:16 GMT
After a couple of weeks working on household tasks started on major workshop clean up and rearrange due to the purchase of M&W toolbox. This box was found whilst walking round a junk/useful bits shop. I walked in and at the back of the shop i saw a nice shinny dark wood box sitting in the corner, it turned out to be a vintage M&W toolmakers seven draw toolbox in mint condition. Could not believe the cheap two figure asking price so paid the money and ran. Thus started the major tidy. And to think that I sold mine about eight or nine years ago for fifteen quid.
Mind you, it was in workshop condition, not pristine. And the key for the lock was missing, too.
Regards, Steve
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stevep
Elder Statesman
Posts: 1,070
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Post by stevep on Jan 28, 2022 9:24:20 GMT
My toolmakers chest was made by my Grandfather for my Mother, when she started work at the aircraft factory at Filton (Bristol) in WWII.
It too, had lost its key, but that wasn't too difficult to conjure up.
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Post by keith1500 on Jan 28, 2022 11:19:15 GMT
No key needed for mine. No front! My old toolmakers box. It came from my sister in laws father. He made it for himself at the place he worked. He was quite pleased I wanted itwhen it was offered. I gave it a light clean up and lined the draws with Green felt/ baize. I didn’t feel it was necessary to take his name off it as it’s all part of its history. William’s old tool chest by GL5Keith1500, on Flickr Looks about time I emptied it and gave it a spruce up. Also looks like I need a top extension for the stuff that accumulated on top! I made a simple key for a lock at my club. I centre drilled a length of steel rod so it would locate on the peg within the lock. Then silver soldered a blank piece on which which would form the key. This I then cut on the lathe using a parting tool to form the steps to match the lock. Finally added a loop at the finger end. Job done.
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Post by andyhigham on Jan 28, 2022 20:28:09 GMT
I had a look at the steam draincock valve. It takes 7 1/2 turns from closed to open. unfortunately during those 7 1/2 turns all 3 ports are open , which means a lot of wasted steam blowing out of the vent. Ultimately I will make a valve similar to the brake valve, cocks to vent - all closed - cocks to steam. In the interim I will make a longer fitting for the steam end to reduce the travel to around 1/2 to 1 turn. It only needs to crack open to allow pressure into the line, no great flow like an injector
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Post by flyingfox on Jan 29, 2022 8:05:45 GMT
Greetings, I have been a fan of steam operated drain cocks for some time, first using them to avoid complex coupling and rodding arrangement to a 3 cylinder locomotive, just steam pipes. As far as the operating valve goes, I use a on/off screw down valve to put them on, and fix a Don Young type condensate drain valve in the cock steam supply pipe after the on/off valve. This valve consists of a ball, with a light spring under it to open it, and it is closed by the steam being applied via the on/off valve. I usually mount this drain valve on the manifold where the steam feed to the cocks splits to each cock. As soon as the steam is shut off to open the cocks, the pressure rapidly reduces, due I think to condensation, and the lightly sprung ball lifts off its sat to drain the remaining pressure. All simple to make, connect up, and woks well. Regards Brian B
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Post by andyhigham on Jan 29, 2022 19:21:09 GMT
I went to the Manchester bike show this morning. This afternoon I stripped and cleaned the lubricator glasses, so I can see what is happening. Strangely the feed holes are 1.2mm I decided to make the new back part of the drain cock valve BUT! I cant find my 1/4" x 40 die, it must be hiding with all the 10mm sockets and 5mm allen keys. I also can't find my tailstock die holder, maybe the two are together
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Post by andyhigham on Jan 29, 2022 19:28:10 GMT
Yesterday I sent the nameplate drawing to the engraver that I use for work so soon she will have her name "Alice Nutter" Those who know will know why
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